The Modesta Impact Initiative, a non-governmental organization dedicated to improving lives and transforming communities through outreach, health services, education, and empowerment, has intensified its efforts to combat drug abuse by visiting the Colombia Ghetto Community at Krofrom in the Kumasi Metropolis as part of its Drug Awareness and Rehabilitation Sensitization Project.
The outreach, held on June 17, 2026, sought to raise awareness about the dangers of drug addiction while promoting mental renewal, rehabilitation, and hope among residents battling substance abuse.
The Colombia Ghetto, located within the Krofrom community, is known for its significant socioeconomic challenges.
Limited economic opportunities and widespread poverty have contributed to the growing prevalence of drug abuse, with many residents turning to substances as a coping mechanism.
Cocaine addiction, in particular, has emerged as a major concern, affecting people across different age groups and fueling cycles of poverty, ill health, and social dysfunction.
Speaking during the outreach, the leader of Modesta Impact Initiative, Dr. Modesta Abbem, explained that the exercise formed part of activities marking the World Drug Addiction Awareness Month.
According to her, the initiative was aimed at bringing the global campaign to the local level and ensuring that vulnerable communities most affected by addiction are not excluded from important conversations on drug abuse and rehabilitation.
She noted that the sensitization programme focused on educating residents about the health risks and dangers associated with cocaine and other illicit drug use, while encouraging them to seek help and embrace rehabilitation opportunities.
“Many residents in this community face difficult socioeconomic conditions, which have contributed to substance abuse as a coping mechanism. It is therefore important that we bring education, awareness, and support directly to them,” Dr. Abbem stated.
The outreach provided a platform for individuals struggling with addiction to share their experiences. Several residents gave personal testimonies about the impact of drug abuse on their lives, while members of the Modesta Impact Initiative offered counselling and information on available support services.
Following the engagement, Dr. Abbem observed that access to rehabilitation and mental health services remains limited within the community and surrounding areas. She further identified poverty and unemployment as major factors driving continued drug addiction and substance abuse among residents.
As a result, she called on government and relevant state agencies to establish and adequately fund rehabilitation centres specifically designed to serve low-income communities.
She also urged authorities to implement economic stimulus programmes focused on job creation and skills development in communities heavily affected by drug addiction.
“Government and other stakeholders must establish and adequately fund rehabilitation centres with a holistic approach to treatment. There is also the need for job creation and skills training programmes in communities affected by drug addiction,” Dr. Abbem appealed.
Dr. Abbem emphasized that addressing substance abuse requires a comprehensive approach that combines treatment, education, mental health support, and economic empowerment.
Over the period, Modesta Impact Initiative has continued to make significant impacts through its community outreach programmes, touching lives in prisons, schools, communities, and other vulnerable settings.
The organization remains committed to restoring hope, empowering individuals, and transforming communities through sustainable interventions that address both social and health challenges.
